Sept. 30, 2004

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -

The Southeast Missouri State volleyball team will hold a silent auction for a hand-crafted hope chest throughout the month of October to help raise money for the fight against breast cancer through the Dig for Life campaign. The auction starts this Friday, October 1 when Southeast takes on Eastern Illinois and will run till October 31 against Drake.

The chest was made and donated by the Community Service Committee and Southeast Missouri State University Facilities Management. The chest is a solid 100-year-old oak from the River Campus. The minimum bid for this beautiful chest is $400.00.

Proceeds from the auction will go towards the Dig for Life Campaign, now in its fourth year.

The Dig for Life campaign was started in 2000 by volleyball head coach Cindy Gannon and sponsored by the Saint Francis Medical Center to help educate women about breast cancer. Dig for Life also raises money to provide mammography screening, transportation to medical treatments, babysitting services and more.

Since 2000, an amazing $20,000 has been raised to educate Southeast Missouri women about the importance of early breast cancer detection and help families affected by the disease. Last season the Dig for Life campaign raised over $10,000 and this year they look to top that amount.

To make a bid on the hope chest you can fill out a bid ticket and write your number from the ticket and bid amount on the "bid sheet" at any Southeast home volleyball match. You may update/raise your bid throughout each match in October. The winner will be notified after the October 31 match against Drake.

Bids can also be placed by calling (573) 651-2997 or (573) 651-2937.

For more information about the auction or Dig for Life please contact Cindy Gannon at (573) 651-2997 or Patrick Clark at (573) 651-2937